The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-04
A WARTIME HERO.
The End of Joshua Follansbee-How he LOST
His Place In the Navy.

His Place In the Navy.
Washington Special to Milwaukee Sentinel.
An old hero was buried here this week
Joshua Follansbee-a man who was dismissed
from the United States navy for an act OF patri-
otto daring, and whose name was, for months. in
verybody's mouth He was the friend of Far
ragut and Dahlgren, and all the other heroes OF
the war. Secretary Welles commended him
privately for what he was compelled to publicly
rebuke Follansbee knew in advance what the
penalty. would be for his act. but he
riice his official position to rid the
seas of dangerous privnteer. Next to the Ala
bama the Florida was the most effective
and came out of the English ship-yard equipped
and provisioned by English money, under some
oriental name but when she reached the West
Indies she threw off her disguise, hosted con-
federate flag. and sailed up and down the coast
from Buenos Ayres to Newfoundland, capturing
and destroying many merchantmen and vast
amount of property. Whole fleets went after
her. but somehow she always managed to elude
Them till one day Captain Collins of the Wau-
chusett, caught her off the coast of Brazil and
chased her into the neutral port of Bahia Col
Inns notified the authorities of her character and
the captain of the Florida was given twentY-four
hours in which to leave.
At the end of this time the Wauchusett
hauled off outside the harbor waiting for the
confederate to come and test iron with her. but
the Florida remained in port. For two three
days the Yankees waited patiently, but the
privateer would not come out to battle. Finally
Collins called council of his officers, and it was
decided to go in and take her. Follansbee, the
chief engineer, proposed it, and won over the
reluctant captain by his arguments They knew
1t was violation of international law to attack
vessel in a neutral port, but they knew at the
Same time that the vessel was sailing under false
colors, ana was remaining in the harbor con-
trary to the orders of the Brazilian government.
They knew, too. that the captain of the port had
power to enforce his commands. and
that the Florida could keep her refuge
there IS long as she liked. for if the Brazilians
attempted TO put her out ehe could destroy their
With this knoyndOa Collins and Fol-
lansbee decided to take the chances, and steam
ing mp the Wauchusett, attacked the Florida,
boarded and captured her. put her officers and
crew IN irons, and steamed northeast with their
prize in tow. They reached Fortress Monroe a
fortnight afterward. and turned the vessel over
to the au thorltes
Of course, there was row and the greatest
excitement For weeks we heard little but of
Collins and Foansbee and the Florida compli-
cations. The Brazilian government at first did
not show any disposition to make a fuss about
the matter, but was compelled to do so by En-
gliSh influence, and the affair caused i'm
mense amount of diplomatic correspondence. in
which, of course, our government backed down,
as it did in the Mason -Slidell case The public
sentiment was with Collins and Follansbee.
They were the heroes of the hour; but while the
government would have been glad if every
rebel privateer could be disposed of in some
manner, the international obligations required
that reparaton be made. The first thing to
take the captured vessel back to Bahia. which
Collins and Follansbee were ordered to do, and
then these officers had to appear before court
IDaFLial TO answer TO serious Charges ne nrSG
part of the penalty was never carried out. Dur
ing the controversy the Florida lay in Hampton
Roads in charge of Follansbee The night after
it became known that she was to be returned to
the rebels, she sunk in fifty fathoms of water.
just how it happened disclosed, al
though there was board of inquiry. The court
possible aud finally decided that the disaster
due to Follansbee's "carelessness." They made
it light they could for the old tar, but every
man on the court knew as well as he knew his
own name shat Follansbee scuttled her to pre-
vent her being taken back to the rebels. The
public understood, and applauded the act, but
the hero was dismissed from the navy. Then he
went Erie to reside, and has lived there since,
being engaged in the coal business.